Of the thirty-two marks, the eyes are the treasure,
Next observe the head and face, they should be well-proportioned.
Judging a horse without consulting ancestral records,
Is also like a blind man walking by faith.
Eyes like hanging bells, steeped in purple,
Pupils like clear beans must be distinct.
A white thread piercing the pupil means it can travel five hundred li,
Pupils generating five colors indicate long life.
Nose patterns having characters mean longevity,
Like 'fire' or 'duke', living forty springs.
The longevity whorl on the crown is higher than the eyes,
Mane fine and downy, divided into myriad strands.
Face like a skinned rabbit, cheeks without flesh,
Nose like a golden cup, the feed trough horizontal.
Ears like willow leaves, roots a handful,
Poll long like a phoenix, resembling a rooster's crow.
The mouth's cleft must be deep, teeth set far apart,
Tongue like a hanging sword, shaped like a lotus.
No black mole in the mouth means long life,
Lips like hanging boxes, meeting and stopping together.
Four large, three high, plus two small parts,
Two long, two short, and one curved and level.
In thinness, flesh is seen; in fatness, bones are seen.
Looking without fear, hearing without alarm.
The eight fleshy parts curved and divided behind the ears,
The dragon meeting high, heard of since antiquity.
A mare or a red horse should not be too prone to bolting,
A bay horse with biting hooves is good at running.
Head hooked, neck curved, the three peaks steady,
Tendons thick, bones fine, four hooves light.
Withers high, chest broad, level as a bowman's hand,
Chest wide, shoulders broad, the 'wind-grabbing' part small.
Head long, waist short, the two 'wild ducks' large,
Belly hanging, flank small, with rebellious hair growing.
Pasterns steady, an inch tight, hooves firm and solid,
Knees high, joints close, bones and sinews distinct.
Rib bones curved and must be tight and dense,
Muscles along the saddle thick, steadying the saddle wheel.
The kidney area small and hidden like a hanging shell,
The inner sac hanging large like a suspended bell.
The swallow bones hidden and subtle, the three mountains small,
Hips like a lute, hindquarters like a crouching dog.
Tail like a shooting star must be set fine,
Goose-nose curved or straight, the sweat groove deep.
Bones and sinews, large or small, must be even and strong,
Body shape expansive, must be broad and level.
All the above hair and bones are of a fine steed,
But still carefully discern the inferior and the swift.
A sunken back and arched spine—how can it go far?
Coarse hooves and dragging pasterns—how can it run?
White head on a black body must be avoided,
Silver mane and jade neck need not be admired.
Broken face and solitary hoof are truly inauspicious,
White ears and flowery waist are indeed ominous.
Running nose and embroidered neck—don't call them beautiful,
Sandy eyes and ringed eyes—don't praise them highly.
Short face and horizontal bones are truly detestable,
Deep-set eyes without flesh are not to be cherished.
Trough shallow and mouth narrow—often lacks food,
Legs thick and hooves large—truly cannot travel.
Coat unusual and whorls widespread—don't boast of nobility,
Inches long and pasterns soft—don't call them fine steeds.
Back straight and tail high—don't speak of beauty,
Ears large and head fat—not worthy of admiration.
Sheep's eyes and elephant's eyes—distant and powerless,
Pig's hips and camel's back—not good at running.
Dragon skull and protruding eyes—naturally fast,
Doe head and deer ears—called 'Zhui Wind'.
Tendon appearing in the orifice is an extraordinary mark,
Eyes having double pupils—do not regard lightly.
Urinating like a dog is truly hard to find,
Ear hairs one foot long are worth a thousand gold.
Newborn without hair is called 'dragon foal',
Double horns at birth are also called 'dragon'.
Ears tiny, one inch—travels a thousand li,
Urine passing the forefeet—half the journey ahead.
Goat-beard with spurs gallops three hundred li,
Spurs like chicken claws—a thousand li a day.
The noble marks described above are clearly recorded,
The ancient classic is passed down for ten thousand generations to follow.